HORROR EXPRESS

I was taken back a little when I heard Matthew's vocals on the first track, I thought he had Peter Hammill guesting on it. It's not just Hammill's voice he's channeling here though it's the lyrics. Simply put they are brilliant, especially on the song Polly New, but throughout this record. I really like the album cover as well. Matthew thanks a lot of people individually and alphabetically in the liner notes. So he thanks each member of ANEKDOTEN as well as TILES'' Jeff Whittle for letting him use his bass guitars. He thanks the father and son team of PRESENT and many others. Yes this is dark as all Parmenter related projects (DISCIPLINE) tend to be. Piano and vocals dominate.

"In The Dark" is the over 9 minute opener where you would think Hammill is singing. The piano is dark and the sound is reserved although it does get fuller. "O Cesare" features piano and theatrical vocals.Violin after a minute and some mellotron too. Drums and vocal melodies create a great sound 3 minutes in. "Escape Into The Future" could be a PHIDEAUX song. Oh he does thank Xavier in the liner notes as well. The focus is on the vocals on this mid paced catchy track. "Kaiju" is dark and almost spacey. Violin before 2 1/2 minutes. "Snug Bottom Flute And Starveling" is fairly uptempo at the beginning and the ending. In between it's calm with piano. "Golden Child" features reserved vocals,bass, piano and light drums. Guitar after 2 minutes. Great sound.

"Monsters From The Id" opens with the sound of a monster. Reserved vocals and piano follow. It's dark. Tempo picks up after 4 1/2 minutes with organ. Vocals are back 6 minutes in as it settles right down. The organ is back. "Polly New" has such thoughtful lyrics. I just like to read them. Mellotron and full sound hit us right off the hop. A piano / drum interlude comes in after 3 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back a minute later.The ending is dark and intense. "All Done (Horror Express)" opens with piano and reserved vocals. Drums after 4 minutes and a full sound follows. It settles again. "The Cutting Room" has some theremin in it, yes those spacey "Lost In Space" sounds. This one has a really VDGG feel to it other then the threremin.

Tough not to give this 4 stars but i'm just not really into it yet so i'm going to continue to listen.